Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of delivering flawless weekends after a string of disappointing outcomes in recent Grands Prix. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in just three races – the Scuderia’s momentum in both the drivers' and constructors' championships has noticeably waned.
Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, recorded just before the summer hiatus, remains the sole podium the team has secured across the last five events. Despite the SF‑26 still showing flashes of speed at various points during a race weekend – a prime example being the recent Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid where Lewis Hamilton briefly topped provisional Q3 before ultimately starting fourth – Ferrari has struggled to translate that raw pace into consistent results. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the notoriously unforgiving Baku street circuit will test the team’s ability to combine confidence in the car with precise execution, as any lapse is quickly punished on the narrow, wall‑lined layout. "The past few races have proved that our car can be genuinely competitive, but they have also highlighted how vital it is to bring every element of the weekend together," Vasseur said.
"Baku presents a very particular challenge where belief in the machinery and flawless execution are paramount. The circuit can throw a multitude of variables at us, so we must stay focused on our own performance, adapt to any situation that arises, and seize every opportunity." Ferrari’s recent scarcity of podium finishes has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world championship drought appear increasingly remote. After Hamilton’s retirement in Madrid due to brake failure, the lead driver fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time, while Ferrari now trails Mercedes by 145 points in the constructors' standings.
McLaren, currently third, has outscored Ferrari in each of the last four rounds and has narrowed the gap to just 52 points with nine races remaining. On The F1 Show podcast, former champion Nico Rosberg observed that Ferrari are "consistently very close" to the front‑running pace but continually falter in the execution of race weekends.
"Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" he asked, pointing to a persistent weakness in strategy and communication. Rosberg argued that this Achilles’ heel prevents the team from converting near‑pole speed into race victories.
He cited the Spanish Grand Prix, noting that Hamilton would have comfortably finished second behind Max Verstappen had team orders not intervened, and that such a result would have placed him ahead of Kimi Antonelli with relative ease. The pattern Rosberg describes is one of near‑misses: the car’s performance is "damn close" to challenging for wins, yet strategic missteps and sub‑optimal decision‑making keep the Scuderia from capitalising.
He stressed that Ferrari must find a way to tighten their operational processes, improve real‑time communication between engineers and drivers, and execute flawless pit strategies if they hope to close the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull. Looking ahead to the Baku weekend, the schedule is packed. On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers' press conference will be held at 11 a.m., followed by a paddock uncut session at 2 p.m. Thursday sees a full day of practice and qualifying activities, starting with an early F2 practice at 6:55 a.m., then the Azerbaijan GP practice sessions at 9:30 a.m.
and 1 p.m., interspersed with F2 qualifying and the team bosses' press conference. The F1 Show will air at 2:15 p.m. Friday includes the F2 sprint, a third practice session for the GP, and the crucial qualifying session for both F2 and Formula 1, culminating in the release of Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3 p.m.
Saturday’s agenda features the F2 Feature Race 2, the Grand Prix start at midday, and post‑race analysis. Sunday wraps up with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the chequered flag ceremony, and further commentary.
All of these sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional streaming options via NOW, allowing viewers to watch without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane action, and the Baku race represents a pivotal moment for Ferrari. If Vasseur and his team can iron out the strategic and communicative flaws highlighted by Rosberg, they may yet turn their competitive car into a race‑winning machine and revive their quest for a long‑awaited world title.